Snooker: Ref pushes Rocket to the max

Ronnie O'SULLIVAN had to be persuaded to pot the black to secure a 147 break at the 12bet.com World Open in Glasgow after learning there was no bonus prize for a maximum.

O'Sullivan shook hands with Mark King after potting the pink to take his break to 140 in the final frame of his quickfire 3-0 triumph. But referee Jan Verhaas convinced the former world champion to finish off the tenth maximum of his career, putting him in pole position to claim the highest break prize of 'only' 4,000.

O'Sullivan said: "I wasn't going to pot the black because to make 147 and not really get a nice bonus was a bit disappointing because they are magical moments and they deserve magical bonuses.

"But the ref played a guilt trip on me and said 'Come on, do it for your fans. And I thought, 'Okay, because I haven't got long to play anyway, so I might as well go out on a high.'

"But I wasn't going to pot it because four grand, once you've paid the taxes .?.?."

Elsewhere, Jamie Cope beat Dave Harold 3-2 in a see-saw battle. Cope won the opening frame in just nine minutes with a break of 78, but Harold hit back with 94 in the second.

Cope went back in front by winning the next 88-1, but Harold responded with a break of 45 to snatch the fourth frame 69-58. However, Harold was restricted to just one point in the decider as Cope won it with runs of 27 and 24.

Scotland's Alan McManus also needed a deciding frame to beat former World Championship runner-up Matthew Stevens, who recovered from 2-0 down to 2-2. McManus broke for 56 to seal victory.